F1's USGP ignites enthusiasm for 6 Hours of Austin

20/11/2012 - 16h05

Photo : - LAT Photographic

The new Circuit of The Americas opened its doors last week to the FIA Formula One World Championship, and to a torrent of praise from drivers, teams, media and fans alike for the track, the support and the facilities. With the Austin, Texas track scheduled to host the fifth round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship, the excitement and anticipation starts to build from now!

The 3.427 mile (5.51km) layout was conceived by Tavo Hellmund and former motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with the assistance of circuit designer Hermann Tilke. The well-known German architect also designed the Shanghai, Bahrain and Fuji Speedway (reprofiled rather than designed by Tilke) tracks visited by the FIA WEC.

Leading Formula 1 drivers were unanimous in their praise for the new US Grand Prix circuit. Lewis Hamilton and McLaren team-mate Jenson Button praised the high-speed first part of the track, which is modelled on Silverstone's famous Becketts section. Button said: "The change of direction is faster than Silverstone and that's saying something. It's fantastic."

Hamilton added: "It is a great track to drive but the whole track is very difficult. It's very tough to get all the sectors together. The first sector is the hardest with the high speed; there are several different lines you can take and it is massively quick."

With the FIA WEC and American Le Mans Series due to visit the CoTA the weekend of 21/22 September 2013, those same fans from both North and Central America are in for a feast of amazing sports prototype and GT racing. We can’t wait!